Bakery: The Dusty Knuckle

I didn't think it could get any better than Popham's for baked goods in London. What an idiot I am. Today I ventured out East to the much-lauded The Dusty Knuckle, where - rather than the Scandinavian chic of the Islington branch of Popham's - TDK greets you with a distinctly industrial vibe (not too dissimilar from E5 Bakehouse). When it comes to bakeries, I couldn't give a fig so long as the baked goods deliver. And damn, do they.

TDK's line at 10 am (and, I'm guessing, most of the day) spills out of the door, but fear not: next to the counter are racks and racks of freshly baked delicacies for you to sink your teeth into. As is customary, I went for two items: a Honey and Feta Swirl, and an Apricot, Date, and Cardamom bun. Both were exceptional. The former stands as the best single item I've eaten at a bakery thus far (I'd put it above the crumble special I had at Popham's, in fact), and the latter was fundamentally different due to it being airier than the swirl, but also incredibly satisfying.

I can't decide between TDK and Popham's. Both are excellent bakeries, and possibly the best that London has to offer right now. I'll be able to say more definitively when I've finished off my bakery list!